The National tribune., 1887-07-07
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

John Baptist was born in the month of March,
b. G. 6. He began his work as forerunner Of
Christ when he was so years of age. He be-
longed to the tribe Of Levi, being the son of q
priest. We learn from Nu., 4 4: 3. that priests
began their services as such at the age Of 80
years. So st. John Baptist took up his work
March. Il. c. D. st. Luke g.: /, p fixes the
time historically. Tiberius Cesar was Emperor
of Rome; Pontius PLATE Governor Of Judea !;
Herod Antipos, of Galilee and Perea; Herod
Philip, Of Iturca and vicinity, and Lysanius, Of
Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were high
priests. At the time st. John Baptist began to
preach Christ was about POI years old. He fol-
lowed st. John Baptist in about six months.
Compare st. Luke, 3 23.) Hence, in v. 2, it is
said, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand"
The Prophet Isaiah wrote about $50 years b. C..
Add the age of st. John Baptist, to wit, 80
years. and we find the prophecy, alluded to in
V. 3, was fulfilled about 80 years later.
The home of st. John Baptist during child
hood and youth was Juttah, small place in
the interior of Ju1es. He began preaching in
the vicinity of his home, up and down through
the wilderness of Judea. The word wilderness
In the Bible means a place thinly inhabited,
unfenced, uncultiyated, resembling llanOs or
steppes, open fields, pasture lands. He extend
ed his work on up northeast into the vicinity
OF the lower Jordan, preaching and baptizing
on both sides the river from about opposite
JcElCnO 10 tue mouth Oh the
st. John is styled the Baptist to distinguish
him from st. John the Evangelist. He was the
son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. He was six
months older than Christ. The two were first
cousins. He was officially the herald of Jesus.
(slal., 3:1; st. John, l.: 49, He was ascetic.
His raiment was of camePs hair. leathern
girdle fastened his apparel about the body. We
do not judge he wore garments made direct
from cameps pelt or raw hide. They were
probably cut from goods made by spinning the
shaggier hair of q camel-a kind Of drugget or
carpet-appearing cloth. The poor in the East
and monks still wear garments manufactured
from camel's hair and wool mixed. 1t seems
the prophets were accustomed to raiment thus
made. e XII, :S.) So false prophets initiated
such garments. (Zac., I3:4) Garments of
men in early days were long and flowing, re-
quiring girdles to bind them close about the
waist. The girdle of st. John Baptist was made
of leather. Elijah the Prophet wore such q
girdle. Y XII, 1881 Girdles were made of
linen, silk, gold and silver. Leather was indie
alive of austerity. In st. Marks account of
st. John Baptist, Q:6.) the English version has
the word "skin " instead of leather, but the
original Greek is the same in both cases.
His meat was locusts and wild honey"
jews were permitted to eat locusts. LEV, IL /:
D Bochart enumerates 10 kinds. Modern
travellers tell us these insects are a common
abound. The Greeks would eat locusts. but
they did not particularly relish them. looking
on thom as inferior food. The wings and legs
were torn OFT and the entrails cast away, leav-
ing the rest to put on spits for roasting. Some
times the people dried and pulyeriZed them
into meal for making bread. They also cooked
and dressed them in oil. In such cases they
often packed them in salt and cut of slices as
were required. Throughout Arabia locusts
ctr 6rfa al of in A ptar
lea and brought to market for sale. At times
they were boiled.
st. John Baptist also ate wild honey. There
was much such honey found in trees, among
rocks and elsewhere (Jud.. IL 8 I Sa., Ia &c;
Ps., 81 49, Many have thought We are to un-
dersiand a kind of substance which exudes from
palm, fig, date, etc, trees. Rabbinical writers
mention palm honey, fig honey, etc. LANCE
says that perhaps st. John Baptist ate honey
from bees and also from trees. As to his drink,
see ST. Luke, 1: Is. We see the changes of
dishes for the fOrerunner Of Christ. There
were different species Of lOcusts and various
kinds of honey. If he could not get the one,
he might the other. Adam Clarke, the Com
mentator, thinks he fried dried locusts in
honey. We are not alone in our theory that
the meaning of the account is that he was
obliged frequently to resort to the above diet,
and not that verse 4 gives the entire bill of
fare.
"In those days" (V. ~ refers to the times
covered by st. Luke, 3: l, 2. Then Jesus was
living at Nazareth. (St. Matt, 2:23.)
The work of st. John Baptist was to preach
and baptize. By preaching we understand her.
aiding. A herald preceded his principal TO
prepare the populace for the n-coming person
age. He cried aloud to the people, command
ing them to make everything ready, to clear
the roads. to remove all obstacles. and to show
due honor. Jesus was the Principal. st. John
Baptist was to Christ simply what q eOurtier is
to prince. What was coming requiring her.
aid? "The Kingdom of Heaven" Who rep
resented that Kingdom? Christ What prepa-
ration was necessary on the part Of the people
Religious preparation, spiritual receptiveness,
heart reformation. Hence the message, d" Re-
pent." This word refers to q change of mind.
But modification of opinion must lead to q
reversal of conduct. Hence reformation fol-
lowed the preaching. st. John Baptist merely
voiced Christ. As Jesus is Gods Word so, for
time, St. John Baptist was the word of Christ
The work of st. John Baptist was foreseen to
be so important as to call for the attention of
prophecy. (V. 81
Besides preaching, st. John Baptist was to
bsptize. Water is a symbol Of purity. IL may
be used, some say, in the act of baptism merely
in symbolic way. The person in such case
is baptized, not to make him pure, but because
he is pure. Others think baptism is not only
symbolic but instrumental-shat il becomes an
avenue of gFace-that it is one of Gods chosen
ways of imparting the Holy Spirit. This last
view gives 10 baptism an additional signif-
cazce and Importance. 1t becomes n means
of initial grace, while the Holy Communion
becomes n channel for constant streams of
holy influence. As to the nature of the
baptism of st. John Baptist, students are
not of quite unanimous opinion. Some
hold it was Christian baptism, and, hence,
would not be repeated when Christ came.
Others believe it was mere symbol of purity,
resulting through the Holy Spirits influence
from confession and repentance. Nor are all
OF one opinion as TO the method. The rite was
performed in the Jordan. Many hold this i'm
plies immersion. OF these, some think the
method important, and insist on this as being
the only way to baptize; others, that the method
was not tho significant feature, but the water
the significant element. All Christians may
yet see alike rs to doctrines of our holy relig-
ion; till then there will be diversity of opinion.
One must not be so set to be persuaded of his
own mind as determined to be led by the Spirit
and convinced by the Word Of God.
st. Marks account states the object of the
preaching and baptism. 1t was the remission
of sins. They who need 10 repent have call for
reformation. But how of sins committed before
repentance? They need pardon. 1t is evident
st. John Baptist had reference to Christ in his
preaching. (Acts, 19:4.) Christ brought light,
heralding and baptism of St. John Baptist had
reference to our redemption through Christ.
A condition of baptism was the confession OF
sins. ". g. A baptism of repentance (St.
Luke, 3:3) implies wrong-doing on the part
Of th0Sa renantinr Heuea thav Xxho would